Bureaucratic red tape had threatened the re-enactment march, with RMS raising a series of safety concerns, meaning the march would not be able to retrace the historic 1915 route from Nowra to Sydney along the Princes Highway.

Organisers were also initially told they would not be allowed to close the old Nowra Bridge for the march and recreate the famous photo of the Waratahs volunteers heading for Sydney.

But the Nowra Re-Enactment Committee has now been told in a meeting with RMS they will be able to march across the bridge and a small colour party would also be allowed to march the length of the highway to Sydney.

Re-Enactment Committee chairman Clyde Poulton welcomed the RMS reversal and was delighted with the news.

“We explained the philosophy of the whole re-enactment and how we felt honour-bound to honour the spirit of the whole march from Nowra to Sydney,” he said.

“We were not going to have hundreds of people marching, we have always said it would be a small colour party. It could be up to 10 people who would march in a small group with a banner.

“We’ve also had to give concessions, realistic to modern traffic speeds and safety.

“But, nonetheless, it was important for us to have a presence every step of the way the Waratahs marched.

“But they made it clear of an all-of-government commitment to make it happen, which is great news.”

On Tuesday, November 30, 1915, 50 men left Nowra, marching for Sydney as part of a recruitment drive for World War I.

Those 50 men formed the nucleus of what became known as the March of the Waratahs.

Along the way, the group visited towns and villages, recruiting volunteers and by the time it reached Sydney had swelled to 117.

“The RMS said they wanted to be flexible and work with us to see what could be achieved,” Mr Poulton said.

Mr Poulton said exact particulars of the march still had to be decided but the goal was to start the re-enactment in Nowra on a Sunday morning as close as possible to November 30, which would mark the centenary of the original march.

“We picked a Sunday morning as that would be a time we believed would least disrupt traffic crossing the bridge,” Mr Poulton said.

“We want to try to replicate the time frame of the original march which was from November 30 to December 17.

“We are now free to plan the march and ceremonies in the various towns along the coast.

“Obviously we have to provide a route for the march and also have to advise RMS of the times we would be on the road, especially for the police manning requirements.

“They want to work fully with us and the other nine marches across state.

“It is a relief and also a vindication that we can have full community and government support for such a significant historical event.

“It enables the planning to get into full swing.”